19 votes

Does a knockout punch always carry the risk of killing the receiver?

However, if, as she claims, one cannot attempt to land a knockout punch without a significant risk of the receiver's death, then what about boxing, MMA and other such sport competitions? If what she ...
mattm's user avatar
  • 14.2k
17 votes

How do you reliably measure your punching power?

A Cheap, but Scientific Solution This can be done cheaply (and reasonably accurately) with a smartphone, your fists, and some physics (which can be streamlined in excel or other spreadsheet). You want ...
PipperChip's user avatar
  • 1,290
13 votes
Accepted

Is laundry punching bag the same as regular punching bag?

It's hard to tell without examining or testing the actual item, but I'm skeptical that they would be the same. It's marketed as a "novelty", which is often used as shorthand for "not ...
Macaco Branco's user avatar
12 votes
Accepted

How to effectively defend against a boxer with kicks

The subject of "puncher vs. kicker vs. wrestler" comes up a lot in martial arts. The general philosophy that's put forward is: "Don't box a boxer. Don't kick a kicker. Don't wrestle a wrestler." The ...
Steve Weigand's user avatar
11 votes

Supposedly potentially deadly techniques

None of what you described typically causes death. They can cause serious injuries, but rarely death. It's not possible for a palm strike to the nose to break off the bone and drive it into the brain....
Steve Weigand's user avatar
11 votes

Chest punches - deceptively useful, or movie fantasy?

Well, to start off, punching someone in the head is potentially harmful to the puncher. Skulls are made out of hard bone with few flat surfaces and several angles, which increases the risk of breaking ...
Macaco Branco's user avatar
11 votes

Does a knockout punch always carry the risk of killing the receiver?

It is technically correct that any knockout punch carries with it the risk of killing the target. Rendering someone unconscious essentially involves disrupting the brain, whether it is by rattling the ...
Macaco Branco's user avatar
8 votes

Any conditioning exercise that can prevent concussion caused by a punch or kick to the head or neck?

My first piece of advice is to see a doctor. If you are suffering something other than a concussion, that's important to know. However, if you are suffering concussions, you are risking your health ...
Bankuei's user avatar
  • 8,363
8 votes
Accepted

Why are some people just not getting knocked out?

Boxers, kickboxers, and MMA fighters train to be able to minimize the damage caused by a hit to the head. It's actually pretty hard to knock anyone out who has trained for any length of time in these ...
Steve Weigand's user avatar
7 votes
Accepted

Why are punches to the head prohibited in some Eastern striking martial arts?

As per what was mentioned in the comments, these are competition rules. But these arts do teach and practice face punches/strikes in their syllabus. I'd like to draw an example from my style: ...
Kristina Lex's user avatar
6 votes

Is it possible to compile a list of discrete/distinct striking techniques (hands/arms)?

You can make such a list, but there will always be nontrivial disagreements about what the list excludes and whether things on the list are the same. You could imagine making a list by taking the ...
mattm's user avatar
  • 14.2k
6 votes
Accepted

Punching with knuckles first correctly

It is normal for the middle knuckles of your fingers to lead your first knuckles (top knuckles). This protrusion of the middle knuckles is exaggerated when wearing gloves. Your middle knuckles will be ...
Futilitarian's user avatar
  • 3,021
5 votes

How do you reliably measure your punching power?

It's generally very difficult to measure the force very meaningfully, i.e. in some way that would let you compare different techniques, variations in timing/body-mechanics that you're aware of, even ...
Tony D's user avatar
  • 4,150
5 votes

How do you reliably measure your punching power?

I use this the EVERLAST PIQ TRAINER It measures power in G-forces, speed in km/h and is quite accurate (I've let various students try it) It's a good activity tracker for punches as it can ...
Kristina Lex's user avatar
5 votes
Accepted

How can I improve my defense speed?

Defense is harder than offense because reaction is slower than action. You have to see and recognize the movement, your brain has to process a response, and then you have to respond. So, there is a ...
Bankuei's user avatar
  • 8,363
5 votes
Accepted

Why was `Rumble in the Jungle` held in Zaire?

Short version, Don King signed on Ali and Foreman with the promise of a $5 million purse, but didn't have the cash, so he accepted an offer to host and finance by Mobutu Sese Seko. (Wikipedia) Don ...
Macaco Branco's user avatar
5 votes
Accepted

Punching speed vs proper technique/force

I think you are mixing up training purposes here. Speed drills are mostly for three purposes: Rhythm/reaction training, muscle memory, and cardio. The latter is especially true for working the bags. ...
Philip Klöcking's user avatar
5 votes

Concerns with lead leg while throwing a jab

do we need to step with the lead leg while throwing a jab to add some power? No. A step is useful to get an opponent in range, but if they're already comfortably in range there's no need to step, ...
Tony D's user avatar
  • 4,150
5 votes
Accepted

What knocks a person out: Is it energy or force?

Generally it is the force that is important - not the energy but. There's a simple misunderstanding here, in that looking at E = 1/2 mv2 Let's carefully look at the units - mass * velocity * ...
Collett89's user avatar
  • 2,944
5 votes

Does spinning around yourself help reduce the dizziness from a punch on the jaw?

Not "spinning around", but "Rolling with the Punches" I think the term you are looking for is "rolling with the punches" (widely known as the "shoulder roll"). ...
RoundHouse's user avatar
  • 1,321
5 votes

Is laundry punching bag the same as regular punching bag?

I think it depends on what you expect to train. If you want to train impact, you need something firm and heavy. If you just need a surface with a little resistance and some heft to practice learning ...
Ken Ingram's user avatar
5 votes

Is laundry punching bag the same as regular punching bag?

It's definitely not the same. But that doesn't mean it's bad. Many punching bags are much too soft or hard for certain types of training. Similarly, many are too light or heavy. If you are training ...
End Anti-Semitic Hate's user avatar
5 votes

What is an optimal way to evade a punch?

Distance There are human limitations on reaction time (a few tenths of a second) due to the human visual system. If the opponent is close enough to hit you within this time, you will not be able to ...
mattm's user avatar
  • 14.2k
5 votes
Accepted

Punching: Which way to Rotate Knuckles?

There are lots of different ways to punch: There's perfectly vertical like kung-fu / wing-chun does it, also known as a "half-twisting" punch. There's the 3/4 twisting punch like your krav-...
Steve Weigand's user avatar
5 votes
Accepted

Punching: Make a fist and curl fingers correctly

There is absolutely nothing incorrect about forming a fist as you describe in paragraph 2. If I fold my fingers naturally, the tips of my fingers reach approximately 1 cm below the finger-palm line (...
Futilitarian's user avatar
  • 3,021
5 votes

Will triceps extension with a lower weight but with speed and intensity help me get more power in my jab and back fist?

According to sports medicine studies, you need to reach movement speeds of about 1 m/s in order to train explosiveness as particular strength component, compared to general strength improvement. ...
Philip Klöcking's user avatar
4 votes

Avoiding Knuckle Scrapes with Bag Work

I know this is an old question but I wanted to add my two cents because it's the only place I've seen describe a problem that is extremely similar to what I experience. Background I too have an ...
oonyalo's user avatar
  • 141
4 votes

Improving punching power with a medicine ball

Punching a medicine ball is not really going to help you achieve your stated goals. The reason people throw a medicine ball is because it requires explosive forward motion from the arms, which can ...
Bankuei's user avatar
  • 8,363
4 votes

Supposedly potentially deadly techniques

No. The force required to drive a nasal bone into the brain would be enough to kill the target regardless of said nasal bones being present (we are talking about high speed, head on car collision ...
Zen_Hydra's user avatar
  • 1,693
4 votes

How to effectively defend against a boxer with kicks

Rule 1: No jumping. As soon as your feet leave the ground, you lose control - if he rushes in, you'll go flying. Rule 2: Kicks tend to be slower and easier to dodge/catch than punches, so unless ...
Chronocidal's user avatar

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